Collocations for operate - verb

effectively, efficiently, reliably
normally, properly
The equipment was not operating properly.

continuously
The machine can operate for 15 hours continuously at full power.

electrically, electronically, hydraulically, manually, remotely (= by remote control)
The doors can be manually operated in the event of fire.

be designed to
systems designed to operate at the highest speeds

be easy to
The machinery is easy to operate.

effectively, efficiently, smoothly
profitably, successfully
normally
The hospital was operating normally.

currently
The airline currently operates 115 routes to 39 airports in 13 countries.

autonomously, independently
differently
commercially
The laboratory is still owned by the government but is now commercially operated.

be able to
be allowed to
continue to

according to
The government does not operate according to fixed rules.

as
We operate as an advisory service for schools.

under
The industry operates under rigid guidelines.

within
Local authorities operate within a wider political system.

Operate is used with these nouns as the subject:
aircraft, airline, boat, company, economy, enterprise, factor, farm, firm, force, mechanism, military, multinational, pedal, program, reactor, rule, submarine, surgeon, switch, system, team

Operate is used with these nouns as the object:
aircraft, airline, business, camera, clinic, company, computer, equipment, facility, farm, ferry, fleet, flight, franchise, lift, machine, machinery, mill, mine, museum, network, policy, prison, racket, railway, reactor, restaurant, scheme, service, signal, site, station, store, subsidiary, system, track, train, vehicle, vessel